Confirmed! Dana White announces Arman Tsarukyan will be backup for Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje at White House

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 22: Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia poses for a photo with middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev after his victory against Dan Hooker of New Zealand in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Arman Tsarukyan has gotten his wish.

The controversial lightweight fighter has been everywhere over the past five months except the UFC Octagon. He’s grappled at events from Moscow to Armenia to Brazil and America. He’s grown his social media following multiple times. And now he’ll be the backup fighter for the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight unification title fight at the UFC White House.

Tsarukyan had previously spoken about his hope of being on call for the historic event, but it was only last night (Thu. May 7, 2026) that UFC CEO Dana White confirmed Arman’s position.

“Arman is the backup for the White House fight,” White told Nina Drama on a stream. “If anything happens to that fight, Arman is in there. So … there you go.”

Tsarukyan can’t seem to go anywhere without there being some craziness afoot. He’s been in the UFC doghouse for a while over punching a fan at UFC 300, of a title fight at the last minute, and headbutting Dan Hooker and breaking his nose the day before their main event. Even his grappling appearances have and bizarre behavior, like when he launched Urijah Faber off a wrestling platform